Home-Tutoring

In Hong Kong it amazes me just how young the children are to start receiving home-tutoring. Education with the means to succeed over here is so evident, especially in comparison with the UK. At first this home-tutoring extra curriculum somewhat shocked me, and although I am still amazed each time I hear of it, I am actually starting to understand this cultural difference too. There are quite a lot of people in Hong Kong (7,026,400), which provides a high competitive aspect to the lifestyle. Individuals over here are more competitive, ambitious and determined, downsides to this however include; pushy, aggressive, fierce (at times) and unhelpful characteristics.

I am currently tutoring a two year old Chinese girl. Encouraging the use of the English language with the correct English pronunciation, building her confidence and establishing better concentration are the areas we work on together. At the age of two she is already on form to being fluent in Cantonese and English by the time she reaches her third birthday.

Since my move here I have witnessed first hand from the local children, a politeness towards their teachers, an admiration for elder children and a respect and support for the elderly. During my mum's visit to Hong Kong, she noticed how well behaved the children seemed to be, no swearing being shouted (although she wouldn't have been able to understand this), school uniforms worn in the correct way and children being children. This makes me think that maybe home-tutoring from a young age is not necessarily a bad thing. I know that my young student is so much more calmer, attentive and willing to take part now than she was originally. I walk through her door to be greeted with a huge smile and eagerness to learn... I can't help but compare this with children in the UK at the moment.

Snapshots

Catch of the day

Wash of the week

Friends for life

Spotted

Anything goes fashion wise in Hong Kong. There is such a mix of styles with influences mostly from Japanese and Western cultures. The elderly still rule the fashion stakes in my eyes though, with comfort probably being the most important factor when choosing an outfit! They have the unintentional cool factor working for them. No try hards, just clashing prints, cozy fabrics and the old school Hong Kong style shining through.

Continuous love for the oldies in the Leopard print

I like these; bold print and good colours

nice shoe shape, nice floral leggings and nice gold Nike bag

Good combination.

"Going to have my pulse felt"

Over the last few days there has been some illness lurking in our little home.

Noses blocked, chests tight and sleepless nights.

Do I dare myself to find a Chinese medicine to cure this? I am intrigued.

Am I finally adjusting to my new life so much so that I am ready to take the plunge, delve into the vast unknown world of TCM?

"Traditional Chinese medicine is largely based on the philosophical concept that the human body is a small universe with a set of complete and sophisticated interconnected systems, and that those systems usually work in balance to maintain the healthy function of the human body. The balance of yin and yang is considered with respect to qi ("breath", "life force", or "spiritual energy"), blood, jing ("kidney essence", including "semen"), other bodily fluids, the Wu Xing, emotions, and the soul or spirit (shen). TCM has a unique model of the body, notably concerned with the meridian system. Unlike the Western anatomical model which divides the physical body into parts, the Chinese model is more concerned with function. Thus, the TCM spleen is not a specific piece of flesh, but an aspect of function related to transformation and transportation within the body, and of the mental functions of thinking and studying."

Interested? Click here.

Hong Kong treasures

Aren't we just lovely!

The letter J

During my research for the letter J, I came across this picture demonstrating JUMP. It won't be used in my alphabet lesson, but as I was fond of it I thought I would put it on here instead.

Convoy

walking-taxi-boat-walking-boat-bus-walking-bus-public light bus-home

ah, Sai Kung, prettiness hiding away,

behind the mountains and over the hills,

across the water, waiting peacefully.

x

Peaked

Today: made it to the Peak, but so so misty. Ate a delicious tea, shared by all three. What a nice day, a peach bellini along the way... Home-time now. Relax with a marks and spencer biscuit. Mmmm.

Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight

Temperatures are certainly rising in Hong Kong this week, which is such a shame as my mum cannot stand the heat. Humidity in HK can get unbearable and I am sure this is only a taster of things to come...

So nice having her in town, showing her around and showing her off! So proud that she made the 15 hour journey all by herself.

So much to fit in during the 10 days: horse races, Peak visit, star ferry, afternoon tea for 3, market wandering too...

x Smile x

Who needs London Fashion Week

Effortless styles

Oldies know best

Love them.

Street Fighter

Fighting action on the streets of Hong Kong

A B C

Fun teaching days ahead for me as my classes begin, home tuition time and yoga postures for kids. Hopefully my mummy shall arrive too... if the snow clears!

Typically English

I don't want to be boring and write about the weather, but I feel it deserves a little mention. It is so cold in Hong Kong at the moment, really cold. I know Europe is also cold, but over here we don't have things like central heating, carpets, soft furnishings... our duvets are a lot thiner too! Thermals, layers of clothing, scarves and now even a hat, I cannot quite believe it! I actually bought a puffer jacket too...

I had no idea that...

Hong Kong has wild monkeys. They do. I saw three today during a big walk in the forest. Munching on the leaves they were, minding their own business, swinging from the trees! Pretty clumsy ones though... Are they dangerous? I was slightly scared. Apparently they come out at dusk which is when we were there, I was also sightly scared about getting lost in the forest as the sun was going down and it was almost dark. Red trail guided the way. Monkeys, ha! Why are they so funny!

Monkeys outbreed Humans...what?

Well let them as THIS IS NOT ON

Chill in the air

Wow, the weather is very cold in Hong Kong at the moment. Is this a sign of things to come for the rest of the year? Or is it just my mum sending cold weather wishes all the way from the UK. Seven days until her arrival...

Flying Pan Friday

Being away from home, away from family and friends, it can sometimes get pretty lonely for us. So when you hear that a friend of a friend is in town, you make the effort to meet up and hang out together. It's actually pretty fun meeting up with people that are almost strangers to you on the other side of the world, knowing that to begin with the only thing you have in common is the 5995 miles from home you both are... Maybe that's what makes it so easy?

Friday evening therefore turned out to be fun! Not sure if it was the 7eleven drinking on the street (everybody does this - not just those who are under age and 7eleven even have a bottle opener on hand for you), finally finding a bar that I like or the 5am visit to the Flying Pan that made this eve a cheery one, but it was!

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Another thing... Look at this! With half the fat and in a red wrapper...

Tiger Celebrations for all

Celebrations begin this weekend for China and also one of my best friends Gemma. As GP kicks off celebrations in Manchester to commemorate her 25th birthday, the people of Hong Kong and China are to welcome a well deserved four day holiday as the Lunar New Year festivities begin. I am sad to not be with GP this eve, but as I celebrate the new year this weekend in Hong Kong, I will also be thinking of my friend as she grows one year older and wiser... Let's hope this year is a good year for all. Welcome the year of the Tiger.

People of Hong Kong: Take 1

Since my move here I've wanted to take photographs that try to really capture the people of Hong Kong, however, I wasn't sure the best way to go about this. After seeking some professional advice, I tried secret snapping, I realized this will take practice as the framing of my shots just isn't working out.

Yesterday as we were scouring a flea market I finally plucked up the courage to ask people outright if they would let me take a photo of them. To my delight my first three subjects loved the camera, some were thrilled to pose and some were happy to...

In return for the photographs we bought a small piece of jade from the laughing lady and a Qin Qin guitar (which we are going to make little songs with) from our talented music man. As he played his wife manned the shop (above).

Time-travel

This morning I awoke at 6am local time, an early start for me. I switched on CC-macbook to listen live to BBC Radio 2 as I was getting ready for my outing. It was some good music "Clare Teal presents the best in big band sounds from the 1930's to the present day". I signed into my FB account and sent the listen live link to my Swedish twin, who proceeded to listen live from the Scandinavian Peninsula part of the world (a time difference of 7 hours). As she was unwinding down I was waking up. Listening together, our bodies in different time zones, our ears shared the sweet sounds of the 1930s and traveled through time.

"Right as rain"

Today I woke up to the comforting sound of rain drops. Lots of them, pounding against the window. There really is something so reassuringly English about this sound. Looking out of my window my surroundings suddenly came to life, colours are bouncing off one another, buildings look clean and fresh. The sound of the rain drowns out the noisy crowds below. Welcome Mr Rain. I missed you.